Waste Workers Delighted By Public Support As #StreetSmiles Spread Across The UK

Veolia, the UK's leading resource management company, has launched #StreetSmiles to recognise the outstanding contribution of waste workers carrying out essential services as the pandemic continues. Support from the public has already been overwhelming with people all over the country putting out thank you notes or displaying smiling suns in their windows.

Waste and recycling services, from collections to sorting, reprocessing and disposal are vital to help protect the health of the nation. Along with other key workers, waste teams across the UK are pulling together to keep everything moving.

Ricardo Fernandes, Veolia Waste Collector said: "When I started to see the smiling suns coming through for us it made my day. I'm proud to be doing what I do and keeping communities going, but it can be hard. Seeing the public support out there makes a huge difference for us."

The #StreetSmiles campaign asks people to place a smiling sun picture in their window or somewhere near to their bins where their collectors can see it. They can also Tweet a picture and message to @VeoliaUK or their local Council with #StreetSmiles. Everything coming in is being fed back to the teams on the ground.

Gavin Graveson, Executive Vice President for Veolia UK and Ireland, said: "We have been overwhelmed by public support for our front line staff, with many residents asking us how they can express gratitude towards their waste collectors. #StreetsSmiles allows residents to say 'thanks' safely, and spreads sunshine to key workers as they carry out essential tasks.

"I am extremely proud to work in the waste industry and that Veolia's teams, and all individuals in the sector, are delivering for the nation during this challenging time. We hope that residents can continue to support us by following the government's advice closely, and brightening up the days of our hard working staff by displaying a smiling sun in their windows."

Elected Mayor of Watford Peter Taylor said: "Since the start of the pandemic, our partners at Veolia have done an outstanding job in maintaining household waste collections in Watford. We are all really grateful to them for all their hard work and effort. I'd like to encourage all residents to support #StreetSmiles to show our support and gratitude to the collection crews."

Search #StreetSmiles on Twitter to see some of the sunshine coming through.